Motor vehicle



'April 9, 1929. A. MORHOUSE 1,708,703

l MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Dec. 15, 1924 Hfred moorouse Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED srArss ALFRED MOORHOUSE, OF DETROIT, MICHEGAN' S COMPANY, OF DETROT, MICHIGAN, A CGRPGRATIQN F Tv'TTCl-IG'AN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

Application filed Becember 15, 1924. Serial No. $655,833.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to coupling means connected therewith, The invention also relates to coupling` means generally.

@ne et the objects et the invention is to provide an improved coupling between two parts which are adapted to have a small amount of relativemovement.

Another object et the invention is to provide a coupling' oi" simple construction but which is strong and durable and yet cornparativelycheap to manufacture'.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a iexible coupling with connections between the flexible member and the attaching members such that the wearing or the rparts will not unduly tend to loosen or wear the attaching; means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. coupling between the torque arm and the frame of av motor vehicle that will provide sufficient flexibility withoutundue movement ot the coupled end of the torque arm.

Another object et the inventionis to 'provide a motor vehicle with a torque arm connection to the trame which does not twist the trame cross member to which the torque arm is'connected.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a torque arm connection to the trame cross member ot'a motor vehicle that produces vertical strains only on the cross member. i

@ther objects of the invention will appear trom-the 'following description taken in connectionwith the drawings, which form apart otthis specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevatiom'with parts in section., of a portion of a motor vehicle chasembodying theV invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the coupling' means and vassociated .i parts shown in Fig. 1, the section being on the lines 2 2 of Figs. Bland 5; Y Fig. '3 is a vertical sectionYsalbstantiallj.7 on

the line 3&3 of Fig'. 2;

bracket pieces; i

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal section substantially on the lines5-5 of Fig'. 2, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar' to Fizem,

,showing two "other forms of connecting means. f Y Y l Referring to the drawing, l() renresents one of thei'side'b'ars of theitrame oi" motor Fig'. i is a perspective view ot one et theV Ving of the cross vehicle and 1i and 12are c" members. 13 represents the rear or drivii 3' axle. is a. spring' connecting' the axle to the frame. and 15 is one of the wheels supporting the axle. A torque arm 1G fr ends torwardlv from the axle to a point adgaeent one ot cross members or" the frame. in this ins nee. adjacent the cross member 11. The present invention is concerned with the connection or coupling' ot the forward end oi the corone arm 16 to the frame ot the vehicle. This coupling is represented generally by the ret'- erence numeral 17.

rhe coupling' means of this adapted for various uses but it shown as forming a connection between the forward end of the torque arm of a motor vehicle and one of the cross members or" the trame. ils

invention is shown. therefore. the parts to be coupled are the torque arm 16 and the cross member 11 ot the frame. c The cross member 11 i form as shown.

which may be identical in Fach o these. stampinn's has alweb portion 29 andA flanges or strengthening ribs 21 at the sides, which ribs extend beyond the upper part of the web port-ion 19 and are turned over as at 22 forming` ears bv which" theostampings are secured to the cross meniber 11, Bolts extending' through the ea and through the web portionk'll Vot the cross member 11 provide the detachable connecting` me s for the two stampingrs 19.

In moun these stamping's 19 on the member their web or {iat nortions extend vertically downwardl)Y in separated relation te each other, as shown particularlj7V in Fig. 2, thus forming' parallel separated elements to which other tarts of the coupling` ma;Y be attached. By reason ot this connection ot the bracketmeans to the web or" the cross member 11, there is no twistineniber because the torque arm 16 will 'lave i ierely an up and down pull on the frame.

As illustrated herein, there are several 'Hex-- ible'members attached to the bracket means 19. These flexible members areindicatef. at 24, and 26. The member 24 is arranged have their attached port-ions clampedY on opposite sides of the webs 20. rlhe means for between the webs 2O of the stainpings 19 and the member 2.5 is arranged on theoutside oli-one, of said websV and the "iemb-er 2G is arranged on the outside of the other of said. webs, so that all three members, 24, 25 and 26,.

are arranged inparallel and extendingacross a cut out space or opening 27 in each of the stainpings 19. f

The three.llexiblefinenibers-are attached to the bracket means 19 at two separated point-s with'the attached portions of the-nieinaeis firmly clamped as Ashown in the dran ng.

.The member 24 has its attached port-ion Aclamped between theseparated webs; 2O of the stampings 19and the members 25 and 26 clamping these flexible members to tie Y the flexible members.

25 Vingattachment more secure, trie. washers are connecting` it to the flexible members and 26 `intermediate the points of attach- Vmentfto the bracket means 19. llhile it i l io Ashown inthey form here illustrated.

term intermediate, however, is intended to` bracketfmeans 19 comprises bolts 28 extending through the ilexible members and the -websr20 las shown clearly in the drawings. Washers 29 are also used so trat the bolt head and knut d not come in direct. contact with To' ina-ke Vthe clamaslightly crimped at their edgesand the 'ebs of thestainpings 19 are also criinix-idV around Athe bolt holes as shownparticularly Vvatl() in-Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The other part to be coupled, 'that is, the torquearm 16, isv providedl with means for not essential that the point et connect-ion Y shallgbe exactly half way between the attaching'points of flexible n'iembers to vthe bracket". means, yet it is substantially so ihe cover aiid include any point betn'feen the sep# arated attaching. point-s above referred to.

' In the form of attachment of thetorque armato.l the flexible members VVshown in Figs.

2y andv 5,' a braclzetdevice 31 having ahead '32 and arms 33 is shown as rivetedfto Vthe .forward end of the torque arm 16 as 'by several rivets 34. The head 32 is thickened toY support a'pair 'of bolts 85 wliich form clampingmeans for. thev three flexible vinem#` bers24, and 2G to thehead 82. These 'b'olts Vhave considerable bearingr in the head 32 and are therefore not easily loosened therein.v Washers 36 are provided between they flexiblemembers and between one of those members 'and the head ofthe bolt 35 @in order 4'to assist theV clamping-of the flexible members to thebraclret device 31.

VBy the above described construction the vforward end ofthe torque arin is coupled to the vehicle kfra-me so that 'it isV restrained Afrom vertical movement and yeti the vehicle axlemay have free movement-relative to the frame without straining or materiallj.7 wear# ing the torque arm coupling.

. 39 and` 40'and through the flexible `members and'thereby clamp t ie angle'piec'es? and 38 Fig. 5 vis a horizontal section through the form of device shown in Fig. 2 andl it particularly illustrates the long' bearingogtl the bolts in the head 32 of the bracket device ln Fig'. tween the torque arm and the flexible ineinbers is shown. ln this iiistance'the torque arm, indicated at 16a, has a horizontal web portion and downwardly extending-` flanges,

whereas inthe form shown in 2 the web .portion extends vertically. The bracket cevice is in theforinrof two angleoieces 37 and 38,A and the head 39 ot angle piece 3'! ranged between the flexible in f bers 24 and 26' and the hea-d 40 of the anvle niece 88 ex- .1 1K n e; i K tendsbetween flexible members 24 Clamping boltsa extend through the heads tothe llexible members.A The anglepieces 3T and 38 are in turn bolted to the down turned flanges of thetorque 16 shown 41. Thus the flexible meinber24is clamped b etween the two separated elements lor heads 89 and 40 of the bracket means 37, 33, and the intermediate attached vportions of the ,flexibleV members 25 and 26 areclamoed on opposite sideso'fL theaheads of the angle pieces 37, 38. VBythis arrangement the are relieved of much ofthe lateral strains thatthey would be subjected to were they Vsupported at one end only.

'members 24, 25and 26 `:between the heads 44 and 45, with Vsuitable washers 36 between theil-exible members. .'Bolts 46A connect wie pieces 42 andV 43to the torque arm lea. In

thislform also-the clamgingbolts are relieved ot much of their lateral strains.

It will be understood 'thatvariohs terms of lthe 'invention oth er Athan those descrieed above may be used without departingr from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having Vthus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- @Htsf n 1. 'In a motor vehicle, combination, two parts to be coupled, a pair of brackets on one of said parts, a llexible member attached' at two separatedpoints toV eachzof saidbrackets with the attached portionsof saidlinember clamped between the brackets, .and means connect-ingV the other of said parts to said flexible Vmember intermediate the points 'of attachment to Vsaid bracket means.

6 another 'forni et" connection be- 2.' In a motor vehicle, in combinatiomtwo',

parts to be coupled, a'pair of brackets on one' of said parts, a flexible member attached at two separated points to each of said brackets with the attached portions of said ineinbei' clamped between the brackets, and means connecting the other of' said parts to said flexible member intermediate the points of attachment to said bracket, said latter means comprising a bracket device having separated elements connected to the part to be coupled and between which'the attached portion of said flexible member is clamped.

3. In a motor vehicle, in combination, two parts to be coupled, a pair of brackets separately attached to one of said parts, a second pair of brackets for the other of said parts, and a flexible member attached at two separated points to each of said first pair of brackets with the attached portions of said member clamped between said first pair of brackets, and said flexible member being attached to the said` second pair of brackets between the Y points of attachment to the first bracket said member clamped between the said second pair of brackets.

5. In a coupling means, in combination, two parts to be coupled, a pair of brackets lon one of said parts, two flexible members each attached at two. separated points to said brackets with portions of said flexible menibers at the attaching points clamped on opposite sides of said bracket means, and means connecting the other of said Vparts to said flexible members intermediate the points of attachmentto said bracket means.

6. A coupling comprising three flexible members arranged in parallel separated relation, bracket means comprising plate portions extending between the middle member and the two outer members, means for clamping the flexible members to said bracket means, and a second b ac-ket connected to said flexible membeis.

7. In a motor Vehicle, in combination, a frame member, a flexible member supported at two separated points by said frame member, a torque arm, two brackets connected to said torque arm and having portions arranged on opposite sides of said flexible member, and means for clamping said portions to said flexible member intermediate the points of attachment thereof to said frame member.

8. A coupling comprising a flexible member supported at two separated points, two angle pieces having portions arranged on opposite sides of said flexible member, and means for clamping said flexible member between said portions at a point intermediate the other points of attachment of said flexible member.

9. A coupling comprising a flexible member supported at two separated points, two corresponding angle members having portions arranged on opposite sides of said flexible member, and means for clamping said flexible member between said portions at a point intermediate the other points of attachment of said flexible member.

10. In a coupling, in combination, two parts tobe coupled, of two members separately supported by one of the parts to be coupled, a flexible member clamped between the supported members, flexible members clamped upon the opposite sides of the supported inembers and means clamping the other part to be connected to the said flexible members.

l1. In a coupling, in combination, two parts to be coupled, of two members each comprising a plate having an opening and perpendicular 'parallel flanges, means for separately supporting the members on one of the parts to be coupled, a flexible member mounted between the supporting members across the opening parallel with respect to the flanges, flexible members clamped on opposite sides of the suspended members parallel to the first mentioned flexible member and means for clamping the other part to be connected to the flexible members.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ALFRED MOORI-IOUSE. 

